Patient Advocate - OOD

Open Door Family Medical Center; Town of Ossining (NY); On-site; USD 32,718 - 35,128; Full time

Job summary

Open Door Care Network in Ossining, NY, is seeking an Entry Level Patient Advocate to support education, care coordination, and access to services in a patient-centered medical home. In this role you will provide chronic disease education, assist with service navigation, connect patients to outside care, and help with cancer screening navigation while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.

The position emphasizes bilingual English/Spanish communication, driving, and strong organizational

Qualifications

• Bilingual in English/Spanish with written and verbal fluency.
• Valid NYS driver's license and daily access to a car.
• High School diploma required; college credits, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods during patient interactions and to sit for documentation and telehealth meetings.
• Customer service experience required; experience with community and health organizations preferred.
• Passionate about providing high‑quality care to low‑income, underserved individuals.

Responsibilities

• Chronic disease management education and care coordination.
• Concrete service navigation and assistance with paperwork.
• Linkage to outside services and liaison with primary care providers.
• Cancer screening and treatment navigation support, including enrollment.
• Additional duties: documentation, data tracking, and screenings.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Customer service experience

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Details

Level: Entry | Location: Ossining, NY 10562 | Position Type: Full Time | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree | Salary Range: $23.75 - $25.50 Hourly | Shift: 8:30am - 5pm | Category: Health Care

About Open Door Care Network

Open Door Care Network provides health care and wellness programs to individuals and families in need throughout Westchester, Putnam and Ulster counties. Founded as a free clinic in 1972, it serves nearly 60,000 patients annually with primary medical, dental, behavioral health, nutrition, wellness, and chronic disease management services. The organization operates multiple centers and School‑Based Health Centers and a mobile dental van.

Position Summary

The Patient Advocate works in a dynamic healthcare environment, transitioning between desk‑based administrative case management and active patient care. In a patient‑centered medical home model, the role improves health outcomes by providing education, care coordination, and access to services for patients, including chronic disease management, concrete service navigation, linkage to outside services, and cancer screening and treatment navigation.

Responsibilities

Chronic Disease Management Education and Care Coordination

• Provide basic education on chronic diseases to patients and caregivers.
• Provide education on self‑management activities and reinforce medical provider guidance.
• Develop care plans with patients and support adherence to plans, navigate barriers, and revise care plans.
• Assist patients in setting realistic self‑management goals, track progress, and address barriers.

Concrete Service Navigation

• Make timely referrals for social determinants of health needs and assist with paperwork.
• Serve as a health‑system navigator to ensure access to care.
• Refer to Outreach and Enrollment Department for medical insurance assistance.
• Educate patients about low‑cost pharmaceutical programs and facilitate enrollment.
• Assess needs related to housing, literacy, employment, food, clothing, childcare, medication access, transportation, social support, emotional health, correctional involvement, refugee or immigration status, physical safety, and domestic violence using a standardized screening tool.

Linkage to Outside Services

• Serve as liaison between primary care providers and patients to ensure access to specialty services.
• Assist with preparation for specialist appointments, including scheduling, transportation, financial barriers, paperwork, and lab/test instructions.
• Collaborate with the medical team to acquire outside medical records.

Cancer Screening and Treatment Navigation

• Assist patients navigating the cancer screening process, including scheduling appointments and addressing transportation and financial barriers.
• Help patients prepare for screening appointments and understand procedures.
• Enroll eligible patients in the New York State Cancer Services Program for covered breast, cervical and colorectal screening.
• Send correspondence to patients regarding screening results.
• Assist cancer‑diagnosed patients in treatment navigation, identifying specialists, scheduling, and addressing barriers; refer to internal and external support resources.
• Collaborate with the medical team to acquire records from cancer screening and treatment appointments.

Additional Duties

• Document all patient care activities in the electronic medical record promptly and accurately.
• Conduct data tracking and reporting activities as assigned.
• Conduct screenings and assessments.

Requirements

• Bilingual in English/Spanish with written and verbal fluency.
• Valid NYS driver’s license and daily access to a car.
• High School diploma required; college credits, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods during patient interactions and to sit for documentation and telehealth meetings.
• Customer service experience required; experience with community and health organizations preferred.
• Passionate about providing high‑quality care to low‑income, underserved individuals.
• Ability to function effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team and commitment to collaborative, team‑based care.
• Culturally competent and committed to inclusive, multicultural programming.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to understand and follow detailed instructions.
• Highly organized, self‑directed, and able to multi‑task.
• Flexible and adaptable as situations evolve.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, high‑accountability environment.
• Effective problem‑solving and excellent judgment with prioritization skills.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 403(b) and 401(k) plans.
• Generous paid time off.
• On‑site wellness facilities.
• Educational assistance.
• Competitive salary and annual bonuses based on patient care.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Open Door is an Equal Opportunity Employer.